Counter-shaping machine



eh, 9 19. F. RICKS 29,544;

COUNTER SHAPING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 4, 1936. ,F. RICKS COUNTER SHAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1954 Feb. 4, 1936. F RlcKs 2,029,544

COUNTER SHAPING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 19 mm kmiwmm Patented Feb. 4, 1936 LINE? STT i OFFIQE COUNTER-SHARING MACHINE Application May 29, 1934, Serial No. 728,140 In Great Britain June 6, 1933 15 Claims.

shoe at one or both sides thereof to give support to the arch of the foot. It is an object of the present invention to provide in a counter molding machine improved mechanism for quickly and conveniently shaping counters of the type re ferred to in which the wing portions thereof are accurately shaped.

To this end and as illustrated, the invention provides a machine having shaping elements 2 movable transversely into engagement with opposite portions of the margin of a. counter blank and thereafter movable lengthwise thereof to form flanges upon the wing portions of the counter. 25 These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a counter molding machine embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the machine showing the operation of the shaping members;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section illustrating the mounting for the shaping members;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the shaping members;

Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in section of one of the shaping members; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a molded counter formed upon the machine.

The machine is particularly adapted to form counters such as counter 2, shown in Fig. 7, having a molded heel portion 4, wing portions 6 1 and a flange 8 which is substantially flat along the heel portion but is flared outwardly along the wing portions to correspond to the curvature of the shank portion of a shoe.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a frame It! which carries counter molding members including a male mold I2 and female molds M which are arranged. to embrace the male mold I2 in shaping the side and rear portions of a counter such as the counter 2, there being a wiper plate or flange former l8, arranged for reciprocation in bearings 20 by means of a rock arm 22, and operable to move across the faces of the molds l2 and [4 after the side portions of the counter have been molded to form the flat heel portion of the counter flange 8. The construction and operation of the machine thus far described are common to machines of a wellknown type heretofore constructed and which is illustrated in the above-mentioned United States Letters Patent.

In the formation of the wing portions of a counter where either or both of such wing portions extend forwardly for the purpose of hugging the shank portion of the shoe, the male mold I2 is curved downwardly and forwardly as indicated by reference character 26 and the female molds are extended downwardly and curve forwardly at their lower ends, as shown at 28 in Fig. 2. To form the flange of the counter over the curved portion 26 I have provided shaping members or Wipers 30 which are arranged for movement inwardly over the faces of the molds I2 and I4 and downwardly over the curved surface 26 of the male mold l2 to shape the flanges upon wing portions of the counter. These shaping members 30 are mounted upon vertical levers 32 pivoted on horizontal studs 34 carried by brackets 35. The levers 32 have downwardly extending arms 36 by which the wipers 30 can be swung in front of the male mold 12 into engagement with a counter somewhat above the curved portion 26 of the mold at points along the upper flat portion 31 thereof.

The wipers 30 (Figs. 5 and 6) comprise counterengaging faces 38 which are curved lengthwise of the male mold when the wipers are in engagement with the counter. Each wiper 3G is mounted on a ball ended stud 40 secured in the arm 36, the position of each wiper being controlled by a leaf spring 42 secured to the arm by a set screw M. The ball mountings of the wipers 30 allow them to accommodate themselves angularly to the work, and the length of the faces 38 of the wipers is such as to provide for the contact with a considerable area of the work.

The position of the wipers 30 relatively to each other and to the male mold transversely thereof is controlled by earns 46, located on opposite sides of the center line of the flange former l8, operable upon downward movement of the flange former to engage cam rolls 48 carried by upward- 1y extending arms 50 of the levers 32, the arms 58 normally being urged toward each other by a spring 5| to maintain the rolls in engagement with the cams.

The brackets 35 upon which the levers 32 are pivoted are arranged to slide up and down and to rotate on vertical posts 54 which are rotatably and slidably mounted in bearings 56 on the machine frame and which pass through lugs 51 extending laterally of the flange former I8. Each bracket 35 has extending from it lugs 58 between which are positioned part of a bracket 60 secured by pins 62 to one of the posts 54. Pins 64 passing through lugs 58 and brackets 66 prevent relative rotation between the brackets 35 and 60. When the pins 64 are withdrawn and the spring 5I removed, the brackets 35 can be swung forwardly about the posts 54 so that the female molds I4 can be readily removed when it is desired to change the molds. The brackets 35 and 68 are arranged to move up and down together and to rotate about the axis of the posts 54. When the machine is at rest, these brackets are held in raised position, by springs 66, in engagement with the upper bearings 56. The springs 66 are connected at their upper ends to rods 68 secured to the frame and their lower ends pass down through axial bores I0 in the posts 54 and aresecured to the uppermost pins 62, thus to balance the weight of the brackets 35 and 68 and the parts carried thereby. The brackets 35 and 60 are raised after a counter shaping operation by the lugs 51 .of the flange former which engage washers II secured to the upper ends of the posts 54.

For rotating the brackets 35 and 60 in accordancewith movements of the flange former I8, there are provided bell crank levers 72 secured to the brackets 68and having each a rearwardly extending arm I4 (Fig. 2) which, when the machine is at rest, is adapted to engage a stationary face I6 upon the frame. The levers I2 have upwardly extending arms I8 having cam faces 89 arranged to be engaged by cam rolls 82 carried by the flange former i8 and operable upon downward movement of the former to swing the pivots of the levers angularly about the ends of the arms I4. Springs 84 connected to the arms 14 and to the brackets 35 hold the cam faces 80 against the rolls.82 when these are in engagement and, when the cam rolls and cam faces are out of engagement, the springs 84 hold screws 86 in the arms I8 against the brackets 68, thus to limit inward movement of the arms. This construction is such that upon downward movement of the former an initial downward movement of the brackets 35 and 68 is produced.

For controlling the pressure of the wipers 36 upon the male mold I 2, I have provided cams 88 (only one of which is shown) adapted to engage cam rolls 90 carried upon the upper portions of the brackets 60. Each of the cams 88 is adjustably secured to a slide 92 mounted in a bracket 94 secured to the machine frame. This slide is normally urged forwardly by a spring 96, the tension of which can be adjusted by a set screw98 positioned in the end of the brackets 94. Forward movement of the slide 92 is limited by a screw I00 threaded in the bracket 94 and adapted to engage an abutment I 62 upon the faceof the slide.

In the operation of the machine a counter blank is placed between the molds I2 and I4 which are operated to compress and wipe the blank to produce, in the usual manner, the curved side and rear portions of a counter. The

flange former I8 then moves downwardly, causing the cams 46 to engage the rolls 48 thereby to swing the lower ends of the levers 36 inwardly about the studs 34 and eflecting engagement of the wipers with the outer portions of the counter blank. As the wipers 30 come into engagement with the margin of the counter projecting beyond the molds, the cam rolls 82 engage the cam faces 88 and as the flange former I8 continues to descend and the wipers 30 continue to move towards each other, the rolls 82 move down over the cam faces 86 and, since the arms 14 of the bell crank levers 12 are at this time in engagement with the faces I6 of the machine frame, the pivots of the bell crank levers I2 are moved down and likewise cause downward movements of the brackets and and of the levers 32. In this way after the wipers 30 engage the margins of the counter they are given a combined movement downwardly and toward each other to bend over the flange of the counter where the wipers engage it. In Fig. 1 the parts of the machine are shown in the positions they occupy when the wipers 30 have been moved in front of the male mold I2. are then on the high parts I04 of the cams 46 and the cam rolls 82 have just passed onto the lower parts I06 of the cam faces which have assumed substantially vertical positions owing to the swinging movement imparted to the bell crank levers "I2. The cam rolls at this point in the operation of the machine have come into engagement with the cams 88 but the springs 96 have not yet been compressed and at the same time the flange former nearly intoengagement with the margin of the counter. Upon further downward movement the flange former commences to bend the upper part of the margin of the counter over the flat face 31 of the mold I2 to form the flat portions of the counter flange, and the cam rolls 48 engage thevertical faces of the cams 46 with the result thatfurther inward movement of the wipers 30 is prevented. The cam rolls 82 engage substantially vertical portions of the angular movement of thewipers '38 is controlled by the rolls 98 in engagement with the cams 88 which operate to press the wipers flrmly against the male mold I2, this operation being made possible by the yielding of the springs 96.

As the flange former I8 continues to move downwardly after the wipers 30 have been forced against the blank on the male mold I2, the lugs 51 on the flange former come into engagement with the upper endsof the brackets 60 forcing the J brackets downwardly and consequently also forcing the wipers 30 in a downward direction over the face of the male mold. During this movement the wipers 3!] effect a flange forming oper ation upon that gated wing flanges. The flange former 58 moves down far enough to overlap the path of move ment of the wipers 35 thus avoiding any break in the formation of the flange of the counter.

The cams 88 are so shaped that during the inward swinging movement of the wipers thereby the cam rolls 90 are allowed to swing rearwardly so that the pressure upon the wipers against the flange of the counter is maintained substantially uniform during downward movement of the wipers. The springs 96 yield slightly to maintain the wipers pressed against the margin of the counter even if the cams should not give thedesired movement to the wipers.

The cam rolls 48 I3 has moved down cam 80 so that the I part of the blank adjacent to the curved face 26 of the mold forming the elon- After the flange forming operation has been completed the flange former l8 commences to rise with the brackets 35 and 68 and the wipers remain substantially in their lowermost position owing to the pressure of the springs 96 upon the wipers, which pressure the spring 5| is not strong enough to overcome until the upper faces of the flange former engage the washers H at the upper ends of the posts 54. Subsequently, upon further movement of the flange former and after the rolls as leave the cams 88, the spring 5!. forces the upper ends of the levers 32 toward each other to withdraw the wipers 30 from the male mold after which the molds l4 release the counter which can be withdrawn from the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for shaping the side and rear portions of a counter, and members mounted for movement about axes extending heightwise of the faces of the molds and for movement longitudinally thereof for shaping flange portions of the counter.

2. A counter-shaping machine comprising a male mold, female molds cooperable with the male mold to form the side and rear portions of a counter, said male mold having a flat face and a curved face flaring outwardly from the flat face, a plate movable across the flat face for forming a portion of the flange of a counter, and wipers movable inwardly across a portion of the flat face and then longitudinally of the male mold along the curved portion to form flanges on wing portions of the counter.

3. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a plate movable over the faces of the molds for forming a portion of the flange of the counter, shaping members mounted upon opposite sides of the center line of the face of one of the molds for shaping wing portions of the counter flange, and means for mounting the shaping members for movement angularly and longitudinally of the outer face of the mold.

4.. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for shaping the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former comprising a plate movable across the faces of the molds, and members for shaping the wing portions of the counter mounted for movement angularly and longitudinally of the faces of the molds.

5. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former movable across the faces of the molds, members for shaping the wing portions of the counter mounted upon opposite sides of the center line of the molds, brackets movable heightwise of the molds, and means for pivotally mounting the shaping members upon the brackets.

6. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former movable across the faces of the molds, brackets mounted upon opposite sides of the center line of the molds for movement heightwise thereof, members for shaping wing portions of the counter pivotally mounted upon the brackets, means for causing heightwise movements of the brackets upon movement of the flange former across the faces of the molds, and means for causing transverse movement of the shaping members relatively to the faces of the molds.

7. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former movable across the faces of the molds, brackets resiliently mounted upon opposite sides of the molds, means associated with the flange former for moving the brackets in a heightwise direction, shaping members pivotally mounted upon the brackets for movement inwardly across the faces of the molds, and means for applying pressure to the shaping members to shape wing portions of the counter.

8. A counter-shaping machine comprising a frame, molds mounted in the frame for shaping the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former mounted for movement across the faces of the molds, a pair of posts slidably and pivotally mounted in the frame on opposite sides of the molds, brackets secured to the posts, shaping members pivotally mounted upon the brackets, means associated with the flange former for causing movements of the brackets and shaping members heightwise of the molds, means carried by the flange former for causing movement of the shaping members inwardly over the face of one of the molds, and means controlled by the flange former for applying pressure to the shaping members during their heightwise movement to form a flange of a counter in position upon the molds.

9. A counter-shaping machine comprising a frame, molds mounted in the frame for shaping the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former mounted for movement across the faces of the molds, brackets mounted in the frame for movement heightwise of the molds and for movement angularly thereof, shaping members pivotally mounted upon the brackets for movement across the faces of the molds, means carried by the flange former for controlling the position of the shaping members transversely of the molds, means for moving the brackets heightwise of the molds in timed relation to movement of the flange former, and means operable during a portion of the movement of the flange former to force the shaping members toward the face of one of the molds.

10. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a plate movable across the faces of the molds for forming a portion of the counter flange, pivotally mounted shaping members for forming wing portions of the counter, means for moving the shaping members toward each other from opposite sides of one of the molds, and means for moving the shaping members longitudinally of the molds.

11. A machine for shaping counters comprising a frame, molds mounted in the frame for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former movable across the face of one of the molds, brackets positioned upon opposite sides of the center line of the molds and arranged for movement heightwise thereof, shaping members pivotally mounted upon the brackets, means for controlling the position of the shaping members transversely and heightwise of one of the molds, and means for applying pressure to the shaping members to force them against said face.

12. A counter-shaping machine comprising a frame, molds mounted in the framefor shaping side and rear portions of a counter, a flange former mounted for movement across the face of one of the molds, a bracket mounted for movement angularly and heightwise of the molds, an

arm pivotally mounted upon the bracket, and a shaping member carried by the arm.

13. A counter-shaping machine comprising a male mold having flat portions and an outwardly curved portion, female molds cooperable with the male mold to form the side and rear portions of a counter, a plate movable over portions of the male mold to form flat flange portions of the counter, and a shaping member movable transversely of the flat portion of the male mold and longitudinally along the curved portion thereof to form a wing flange portion of the counter.

14. A counter-shaping machine comprising molds for forming the side and rear portions of a counter, a plate movable across the faces of the FRED RICKS. 

